Erica is here to help...

Hello! My name is Erica Houde and I am an Associate Psychologist at Brunswick Creek Psychology Services. I have worked with Dr. Conor Barker (Clinical Director) within and outside of his practice for several years, but I have had a desire to work with people for as long as I can remember. Take a scroll through my childhood keepsakes and you’ll find a note from grade six that reads: “When I grow up I want to be a ….psycologist”. Though I’ve had my eye on this profession for years, my ideas about what it means to be a psychologist and a helping professional in general, have evolved over time.

At present, my work is a combination of assessment and counselling. When it comes to assessment, my goal is to understand a person’s history, obtain a profile of an individual’s unique strengths and weaknesses, and provide recommendations that may benefit a person in their academic studies, in their occupational work, and in their social functioning. Moreover, it is incredibly rewarding to be able to help an individual achieve a new level of self-understanding, and to witness a person’s relief as long-unanswered questions are finally recognized and understood.

In my work as a counsellor, I truly believe in the power of creating a soft place to land. I tend to take a client-centered approach, and I want you to feel as though you are in an environment, and with a person, that you are physically and emotionally safe with. I believe in “walking beside” my clients, rather than leading or directing them; I believe in offering information, and teaching tools that clients can choose to accept and practice when they feel ready. Ultimately, I want to offer my clients a service that helps them move towards a healthier, fuller life.

I promise am not always as serious as I sound; I love to have a laugh and make people feel at home. Hope to see you soon!

---